Glass-working machine



March 15, 1927. i 1,621,359

J; T. FAGAN ET AL GLASS WORKING MACHINE} Fil ed Feb, '7. 1921 l 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 F iip l.

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GLASS. WORKING MACHINE Filed Feb, 7. 1921- 3 Sheets-Sheet 2,

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UNITED STATES 1,621,359 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. FAGAN AND JOHN MALLOY. CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOBS TO GEN- ERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

GLASS-WORKING MACHINE.

Application filed February 7, 1921. Serial No. 442,958.

Our invention relates to glass working machines and more particularly to glass working machines for producing changes of form in glass tubes One article which is I In order that a contraction tube be suitable for use as an exhaust tube, the contraction should be a definite distance from the end of the tube and the contraction of each tube should be uniform with that of any other. Moreover, the finished tube should be straight. To accomplishthis result, we prefer to employ means to definitely center the glass tube in the machine and means to heat the glass tube locally a definite distance from the end thereof so as to properly locate the contraction. We then apply a gradual pull longitudinally of the tube to form a contraction thereon. We prefer to rotate the glass tube while it is being worked. 1 30 More specifically, we have provided an automatic machine in which a series of glass tubes is fed to a constantly rotating carrier where each tube is accurately aligned between two synchronously rotating chucks by :25 the movement of one of the chucks and is then engaged by both chucks which thereupon rotate the glass tube. The carrier successively advances the series of glass tubes over suitable heating means to fuse the glass of each tube in the region of the desired contraction and when the glass is sufiiciently soft the radual longitudinal movement of one' of the synchronously rotating chucks pulls the tube to form a contraction in the fused region. We then prefer to cool the contraction with a stream of air before deliverim the glasstube to a suitable container- 7 althoug this is not essential to the successful operation of the machine. The tube is delivered by simultaneously releasingboth chucks. In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is--a front elevation partially in section of a machine embodying our invention; Fig. 2 is a 5 sectional elevation on the line 22 of Fig.

readily made by means of our invention is 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the chuck on the left hand of the machine as shown 1I1'F10.'1; Fig. 4 is a view of the tube end of the chuck of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a view of the left hand chuck operating cam; Fig. 60 6 1s a front View of the cam of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the chucks showing the total reciprocatory movement of the right hand chuck; Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary viewof the chucks 65 showing the reciprocatory movement of the right hand chuck in forming the contraction; Fig. 9 shows the operation performed upon a glass tube blank; Fig. 10 is an end view of a detail of the reciprocating meclia-- 7 msm for the right hand chuck; and Fig. 11

1s a developed view of the grooved reclprocating cam.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the base 10 (Fig. 1) carries the bearing 7 standards 11 and 12 which support the main shaft 13. Fastened to the right end of the main shaft 13 is a worm wheel 14 which is driven by a worm 15 attached to the shaft IG-carried in the bearing standard 12, and

driven by a. motor and belt (not shown) through the pulley 17. .Garriedxbn! and driven by the main shaft 13 and properly spaced apart thereon are twodrums18 and 19 in which are carried a series of aligned rotating chucks 20 and 21 respectively. While the position of the drum 19 on the shaft 13 is fixed the drum 18 is free to move longitudinally on theshaft 13 as more fully explained hereinafter.

The chucks 20, of whichthere are fifteen on the. left hand drum 18, are caused to ro tate in the following manner. Each chuck 20 has a gear 22 (Figs. 1 and 3) fastened to the main member 23 of the chuck by a split collar 24 and meshing with the stationary gear 25 (see also Fig. 5) fastened to the cam 26, more fully described hereinafter. The cam 26 in turn is fastened to the hearing standard 11 by means of-the-sleeve 27 1 concentric with the main shaft 13 but spaced therefrom by a bushing 28. Rotation of the drum 18 causes the gear 22 to revolve about the stationary gear. 25 and so rotate thechuck 20. The chuck 20 engages the glass blank 28 as follows: On the inner end of T the chuck 20 (Fig. 3) is fastened a collar 29 with an inclined periphery 30 to which are attached three arms 31 upon which slide the chuck jaws 32 to secure a wedgeaction. 11

The jaw 32 has a transverse slot '33 into which fits the disc head 34 of the cap 35 on the end of the central member 36 slidingly held in the main member 2?. The disc head 34 also serve: to align or position the glass I tube blank by limiting the longitudinal motion thereot' during engagement. The

central member 36 is normally thrust m1 travels in the groove 56 ot the grooved cam 49. The cam -19 imparts an intermittent reciprocating rectilinear motion to the main member -15 of the chucks 21 for the purpose of drawing the contraction, of giving clearance to the glass tube at the time of loading, and of reccivingthe glass tube after loading. The cam groove 56 is shown developed in ward, that is, toward the right side of the lf.ig. 11, the lower end of the drawing taken view ofl ig. 3, so as to close the chuck jaws 32 for engaging a blank by the action of a spring 37 wound around the central member 36 and pressing against the shoulder-38 on the cap end thereof and resting on the ring 39 fastened to the in ide ot' the main member 23. The central member is withdrawn so as to open the chuck by the action of the cam 26, previously mcntioi'ied, transmitted through the roller 40 (Figs. 1, 3, 4.- and -5) on an arm on the crank 41, attached to the end of a rod 42 slidably carried in the drum 18 so as to maintain the alignment of the crank 41. The other arm of the crank =l1 is forked to tit a channel bushing 43 on thc end member it which is fastened over the as the zero or starting point is that point on the cam which is perpendicular to the front of the machine or to the paper in the view of Fig. 1. In this specification by return is meant the movement outward from a point centrally between the drumslS and 19 of the machine and by advance is meant movementtoward this center. In forming a one-half inch contraction on the glass blank, the chuck 21 from the maxinmm return position is advanced one and one-half inch to engage the glass blank. Al'tcr heating, the contraction is formed by a one-half inch rcturn of the chuck 21. At about the time of discharging the tube 28 the chuck 21 is rcturned one inch further and remains in that Outer end f th t l member 36 d position until after the machine is loaded.

which slides in the main member 23. The outline of the cam 26 is such that the chuck 20 is opened for discharging and heldopen until loaded in the manner just described. The spring 37 automatically closes the chuck jaws upon the glass tube when the roller 40 is released by the cam The right hand drmn 19 carries the chucks 21 (Fig. 1 of which there are also fifteen. The chucks 21 are similar in construction to and are aligned with the corresponding chucks 520 but have an added function as the drawing of the contraction ll in the glass tube 28 is done by the movement of the chuck 21. The main member 15 of the chuck 21 (Figs. 1, 7 and 8) is rotatably and slidably carried by the drum 19 and has a gear 46 attached by a split collar 47. The gear 46, which is similar to the gear 22, meshes with and is driven by the stationary gear 48, preferably identical with the gear 25, which is attached to the grooved cam 49. The cam4 9 is attached to a sleeve 50 which is fastened in the bearing standard 12 concentric with the main shaft 13 but which is separated therefromby a bushing 51. Rotao1. forked end of .an arm of the crank 53 fastencd to an aligning tube 54. similar to the aligning rod 12, slidably -arricd in the drum 19, the other arnrot the crank 53 having pinned thereto a roller 55 which fits into and i It is possible to regulate the internal diameter of the contraction formed in the blank by adjusting the speed oi drawing the blank. This may be ttCCOlIllJllSllCtl by changing the cam groove 56 in the region where the contraction is to be drawn and by changing the speed or rotation of the drum 1!). Toohot afire will cause a small contraction to be formed and too cool a fire will produce a large contraction. It is preferable to draw the contraction gradually or moderately slow as a quick draw will sever the blank and a very slow draw will form a large diameter contraction.

The chuck 2.1 is caused to hold the glass tube in the following manner. The inner end of the main member 45 (Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 8) has attached thereto a collar 57 with an inclined periphery 58 upon which are fastened three arms 59 having slidably engaging therewith the three chuck jaws 60 each of which has a slot 61 engaging the disc head (32 of the cap 63 on the inner end of the central member (not shown), similar to the central member 36 of the chuck 20. The central member of the chuck 21 slides in the main member 45 which has thercin.-a spring similar to the spring 37 for the purpose of normally holding the jaws (it) in a closedpo sition. described hereinafter, thc'disc head (32 of the cap (33 serves toalign the glass blank by the advance of the chuck 21 which has been previously described. The chuck opening accomplished as follows. in the main member 45 and attached on the outer end of the central member an cud member (34. '(Fig. 1) having thereon a channel bushing (33 which receives the t'orkcd end of an arm of thecrank (it; attached it. an

llii

aligning rod 66 slidably carried in the tube 54 previously described. The othe' arm of the crank 66 has pinned thereto a roller (37 which rides at certain intervals on the stationary cam (38 and causes the chuck jaws (30 to open in a manner similar to the opening of the jaws 32 by the action of the cam 26 on the roller 40 which has previously been de- 'scribed. The cam 8 (Fig. 1) is fastened to the sleeve 50, previously mentioned, between the grooved cam 49 and the bearing standard 12. The chuck 21 is opened for dischtu'ging the contraction tube by means of the roller (37 coming in contact and riding upon the cam (38. The action of the cam tih is such that the chuck 21 is held open until loaded with a glass tube blank and advanced whereupon the roller (37 rides oil the cam 8 and the chuck 21 is pern'iitted to be closed by the ac.- tion of a spring similar to spring 37 of the chuck 20. The cam (3H and the cam 26, pre viously deftcribed, are similar except that the cam (38 permits the right hand chuck 21 to close slightly prior to the closing of the left.

hand chuck 20. The clo-ing ot' the chuck 21 prior to the. closing of the chuck l permits the proper alignn'ient ot' the glass tube blank with the chuck 21 by which the contraction is drawn, the length from the end of the tube held in the chuck 21 to the contraction being considered important in the future utility of the tube.

The feeding of the machine is accomplished by the followin, means. Attached to the inner face of the drum 1S and suitably spaced therefrom by standards (it) Fig. 1) is a disc 70 which has notches 71 on the periphery thereof in alignment with the chucks QOfor receiving one end of the glass tube. -A similar disc 72 (see also Fig. 2) a tached to the drum 19 by the standards 73 has notches 74 on the periphery thereof in alignment with the chucks 21 for receiving the other end of the glass tube, the chucks 20 and 21 being aligned opposite each other.

The glass tube blanks are fed to the rotating notched discs 70 and 72, slightly more to the right of Fig. 1 toward the chucks 21 than centrally on the discs, at the zero point previously mentioned by an inclined hopper 7 (Fig. 2) mounted on a bracket 76 carried by the base 10. The blanks are carried by the discsuntil the proper chu'ck 21 advances when the disc head 62 thereof aligns and (positions the blank relative to both the chuck 21'and the other glass tubes in the machine by advancing the glass tube blank to the left as shown in the dotted lines of lflig. T. lVhen' the longitudinal movement of the chuck 21 has ceased, the chuck 21 and then the chuck 2O closes upon the glass blank.

A gas burner 77 (Figs. 1 and :2) shaped to conform to the curve of the discs 70 and 72 is placed between them and just Within the line of their periphery so to heatthe glass tubes from the time they are gripped by the chucks 20 and 21. until just previous to the drawing ol the contraction more definitely set forth hercinbetore. carried by the bracket To, previously mentioncd.

After the contraction is drawn it preferably cooled by a stream of air from an areshaped airjet To (Figs. 1 and. 2) placed without the line of the periphery of the discs 7t.) and '1. The jetv 78 is attached to the supply pipe 79 which is carried by the base 10.

I A chute 80 (Fig. carried by the base receives thecontraction tube at the discharge point of the chucks Qt) and 21, previously described. and delivers the tu e to a suitable container such as a box 81.

For convenience in setting up the machine for operation upon ditl'erent standard lengths of glass tube blanks, we have preferably provided a screw 82 (Fig. 1) working in a threaded part H2) ot' the web of the cam :26 and supported rotatably in a bushing 8% in the standard 11. A halal-wheel 85 is attached to the outer end of the screw 82 so that rotation of the wheel 85, which causes the screw 82 to enter or leave the threaded part 83 ot' the cam 26, causes the cam 26 to move along the sleeve respectively toward or away from the standard 11. Movement of the cam 26 causes moven'ient of the drum 18 in the following manner. The drum 18 has a thrust: ball race so retained on the hub thereof by the nut 87. The ball race 86 has two diametrically disposed pins 88 which are engaged by the two lugs 89 fastened to the. cam :26, the pins 88 being -free to remain stationary while the ball race 86 rotates. Thus anylongitudinalmovement of the cam 26 atl'ects'the drum 18 correspondingly. In this way, it is possible to make the machine accommodate longer or shorter tubes.

In operation, the main shaft 13 is driven through the worm wheel 14 and worm wheel and the drums 18 and 19 are thereby rotated. The gear ot' the chuck meshing with the stationary gear and the gear -"(i ot' the chuck 21 meshing with the stationary gear 48 cause the continuous rotation of the chucks 20 and 21 when the drums 1S and 19 are rotated. The respective gears being idenfical. the speeds of rotation of the chucks 20 and 21 are equal and synchronous. The glass tuhes'arc placed in the hopper and as the discs TO and T2 are rotated past I the end thereof the notches T1 and T-l carry a The burner 77 is to be limited thereo as various modifications thereof will readily suggest themselves ,to those skilled in the art.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentof the United States, is

1. In a glass working machine, means for holding each end of a glass tube blank, means for successively advancing a series of said holders, means for aligning said blanks relative to each other, means for continuously and synchronously rotating said holders during their advancement, means for heating the rotating blanks locally and means for applying a gradual pull longitudinally of the said heated blanks whereby a contraction is formed on each of said blanks.

2. In a glass working machine, thecombination with a bed, a shaft rotatably supported thereon and means for rotating said shaft, of two drums mounted on said shaft, a series of pairs of aligned chucks rotatably carried in said drums, a gear mounted on each of said chucks and two stationary gears mounted on said bed and eachmeshing with the gears of a corresponding series of chucks in each of said drums.

3. In a glassworking machine, the coinbination with a chuck for holding a glass blank comprising means forv engaging said blank, means for aligning said blank in said chuck and means for causing said engaging means to close upon said blank, of a second chuck aligned with said first chuck, means for advancing said second chuck upon said :first chuck, means for causing the engaging means of said second chuck to close upon said blank prior to the closing of the engaging means of said first/chuck, means for path of travel of the blanks, means brought returning said second chuck from said first chuck, means 'for synchronously rotating said chucks, and means external of and corresponding to each chuck for releasing said respective closing means.

4. In a glass working machine, the combination of a pair of substantially vertically disposed disc holders mounted for-rotation and having at their peripheries a series of notches arranged in aligned pairs so as to engage and. align a glass tube blank, a series of pairs of substantially horizontally disposed aligned chucks each mounted opposite to one of the aforesaid notches and adapted to receive an end of the glass tube blank, carriers for said chucks, means for synchronously rotating said carriers and said disc holders, a heating means disposed in the path of travel of the blanks. means brought into operation after'the softening of a blank for causing a change in the proximity of the chucks holding the same to produce a change in form of said blank, and automatic means for causing the release of said chucks to discharge the articles thus produced.

5. In a glass working machine, the combination of a ,pair of substantially vertically disposed disc holders mounted for rotation and having. at their peripheries a series of notches arranged in aligned oairs so as to engage and align a glass tube blank, 21 series of pairs of substantially horizontally dis posed aligned chucks each mounted opposite to one of the aforesaid notches and adapted to receive an endof the glass tube blank, carriers for said chucks, means for synchronously rotating said carriers and said disc holders, a heating means disposed in the into operation after the softening of a blank for causing a change in the proximity of the chucks holding the same to produce a change in form of said blank, automatic means for causing the release of said chucks to discharge the articles thus produced, and automatic vmeans for feeding tubes to the said disc holders. v In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this second day of February 1921.

JOHN TJFAGAN. JOHN J. MALLOY. 

